Oatmeal. Apple. Tea. Onward.

I’m not big on dramatic New Year’s resolutions. I’ve tried them. They usually involve spreadsheets, sudden personality changes, and a level of optimism that does not survive for very long.

Turns out, that’s not a personal flaw—it’s a pattern.

Research consistently shows that New Year’s resolutions fail early and often:

• About 80% of resolutions fail by mid-February (U.S. News & World Report)

• Roughly 25% of people abandon resolutions within the first two weeks

• The most common reasons? The goals are too big, too vague, or too rigid

So for 2026, I’m doing something different.

Instead of impressive-sounding resolutions, I’m building tiny daily rituals—the kind that don’t rely on motivation, willpower, or a sudden reinvention of my personality.

Here’s the entire plan:

• Continue to eat my healthy oatmeal in the morning (already a habit)

• Eat one apple every day

• Drink hot green tea every day

That’s it.

No calorie counting.No “never again” foods.No 47-step morning routine.

Just oatmeal, an apple, and tea.

Why so small?

Because after years of leadership workshops, improv games, juggling shows, and watching very capable humans try to improve their lives, I’ve noticed something:

Consistency beats intensity. Every time.

Behavioral science backs this up. Research on habit formation shows that people are far more likely to stick with behaviors that are:

• Specific

• Low effort

• Tied to identity (“this is what I do”) rather than outcomes (“I must achieve X”)

An apple is hard to mess up. Green tea doesn’t demand excellence. Oatmeal just sits there patiently, waiting for hot water.

These aren’t stretch goals.They’re anchors.

Yes, the food choices help too

This isn’t a nutrition sermon—but the data is friendly.

• Oatmeal contains beta-glucan fiber, which has been shown to help lower LDL cholesterol and support steady energy (Harvard Health).

• Apples are linked to improved gut health and reduced cardiovascular risk thanks to fiber and polyphenols (Journal of Nutrition).

• Green tea has been associated with improved brain function, metabolic health, and longevity, largely due to catechins and antioxidants (NIH / Harvard).

None of these work because they’re magical. They work because they’re easy to repeat.

And repeated choices matter more than perfect ones.

The mantra I’m carrying into 2026

It started as a joke. Then it stuck:

“Oatmeal. Apple. Tea. Onward.”

It’s a grocery list.It’s a mantra.It’s a reminder that forward motion doesn’t need drama to be meaningful. Some days, “onward” will mean creative leaps or brave conversations. Other days, it’ll just mean making tea and not spiraling.

Both count.

This isn’t really about food

(Okay, it’s a little about food.)

Mostly, it’s about how I want to move through my days:

• Start nourished

• Build in a pause

• Choose the simple thing when I’m tempted to overcomplicate everything

That philosophy works just as well in leadership as it does in breakfast.

You don’t need the perfect plan.You don’t need to overhaul your life on January 1st.

You just need one small thing you’re willing to do today.

And then tomorrow.

And then again.

My only rule for 2026

Do the simple thing today.

If that’s oatmeal—great.

If that’s an apple—win.

If that’s hot green tea and five quiet minutes—even better.

Then… onward.